The most unpopular oil company in America is about to become a punching bag once again. Barring a last-minute settlement, BP will face its accusers in court today over its catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Three years on from the disaster that killed 11 people and damaged hundreds of miles of coastline, BP will risk enraging the US population by doing its best to deflect blame at the start of a marathon trial in New Orleans.

It has already paid $4.5 billion to settle criminal charges arising from an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which started the